I love Don Shula. One of the truly great coaches of all-time (top 2-3, top 5 for sure). He is old school but also showed great ability to adjust to the changes in the game more than any other coach in history has done. That article was very moving (as were the videos) and also very touching and sad to me - to see life move on and know he is nearing the end - life is short don't waste it. He has been such an iconic figure in the NFL. It has been a privilege to see his work.
Fantastic article. Thanks for that. As a child, my parents had moved us away from Florida, and we didn't get to see every Dolphins game anymore. But ANY time they were on Monday Night Football (with Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, and either Don Meredith or Alex Karras or one of those guys that passed thru - heck, it could have been O.J. Simpson at one point), it was MUST-SEE viewing. I can still hear the unique voice of Howard Cosell, hear it in my head like it was only yesterday because it made such an indelible mark, saying as the Miami Dolphins ran onto the field, "There.he.is. THE.GREAT.ONE. Don.Shula." I'm 46 now, and it's still there. Unlike any player (except for Marino, and Csonka, to some extent, because they were my childhood heroes), because he was there so long, it just feels like he was a part of my family. I never met the man, sadly, but if I saw him, even now, I think I'd just want to give him a big hug. Is that strange or what?
That's good stuff. I'm close to the same age as you but my situation was totally different, grew up in Northern California amongst a family full of Raiders and Cowboys fans. My cousin, my brother and myself all liked the Dolphins because we loved Flipper...still holds true to this day. I'd love to meet Don and shake his hand and just tell him thanks.
He doesn't have to say he is the greatest of all time. I will say it for him: Don Shula is the GREATEST COACH OF ALL TIME!! There I said it!!
